What happened to 4 wheel steering?
Discussion
Well? I remember when I was younger I was looking forward to getting a honda prelude with 4WS. Sounded wicked. Never got one though 
Anyway, seems like a nifty idea, so where is it, hey?
here's a picture of one in action, just for fun
the following sounds good, anyone any experience themselves?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sldOdWYzW7U
Anyway, seems like a nifty idea, so where is it, hey?
here's a picture of one in action, just for fun
the following sounds good, anyone any experience themselves?
someone said:
The effect of the 4WS mechanism acting in this way was non-linear steering. That is, the effective steering ratio varied from a low ratio at small steering angles, to a high ratio at large angles. This means more steering angle input is required to perform a gradual turn, making the car less twitchy and more relaxed to drive at high speed, without requiring constant corrections; while less steering angle is required to perform a tight-radius turn, giving the car a go-kart like feel during tight manoeuvers. The observed effect while driving might be best imagined as a variable effective wheelbase, from a long wheelbase at small steering angles, to a very short wheelbase at large angles.
here's a good vid examplehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sldOdWYzW7U
Edited by CoolHands on Friday 23 March 10:38
As far as I'm aware cars like the laguna have passive rear wheel steering. No actual steering rack for the back wheels just a suspension geometry that allows the rear wheels to slightly turn assisting cornering. Very different from the old Hondas. I would guess the cost of it out weighed any advantage.
jfdi said:
As far as I'm aware cars like the laguna have passive rear wheel steering. No actual steering rack for the back wheels just a suspension geometry that allows the rear wheels to slightly turn assisting cornering. Very different from the old Hondas. I would guess the cost of it out weighed any advantage.
It's active.Laguna wiki said:
uses a rear steering actuator similar to the HICAS system used in several Nissan and Infiniti models, which allows better cornering dynamics, high speed stability and decreased turning radius.
The big BMWs are another example.There's a list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4WS#Active_four-wheel...
TonyHetherington said:
The R34 (?) GTR had 4 wheel steer too, didn't it?
I imagine the mechanism and additional weight outweigh the benefits in many cases?
I know the R32 GTR had it, when my dad had one, the battery had gone flat over the winter months, once it was back on the road, the 4WD steering needed 'setting up' again, was like driving down the road sideways I imagine the mechanism and additional weight outweigh the benefits in many cases?
TonyHetherington said:
The R34 (?) GTR had 4 wheel steer too, didn't it?
I imagine the mechanism and additional weight outweigh the benefits in many cases?
I had a R33 GTST with the 4 wheel steering, I think it was called HICAS (could be wrong and cant be bothered looking it up).I imagine the mechanism and additional weight outweigh the benefits in many cases?
It was quite popular to get a lock out kit for the R32 GTR and the R33 as it was a bit random in how it operated - cant remember how it functioned exactly but it was computer controlled, I know mine tried to kill me more than once. I ended up locking it out and it made the car feel more better and predictable.
There is even talk at one point in the R32 GTR of loud bass in the car interefering with the system!
Gazzas86 said:
I know the R32 GTR had it, when my dad had one, the battery had gone flat over the winter months, once it was back on the road, the 4WD steering needed 'setting up' again, was like driving down the road sideways
Happened to me once, it was a very odd experience driving sideways until I reset the system!trashbat said:
jfdi said:
As far as I'm aware cars like the laguna have passive rear wheel steering. No actual steering rack for the back wheels just a suspension geometry that allows the rear wheels to slightly turn assisting cornering. Very different from the old Hondas. I would guess the cost of it out weighed any advantage.
It's active.Laguna wiki said:
uses a rear steering actuator similar to the HICAS system used in several Nissan and Infiniti models, which allows better cornering dynamics, high speed stability and decreased turning radius.
French and complicated, what could possibly go wrong.
TVR were way ahead in terms of four wheel steering, traditional rack and pinion on the front and this
(plus a few others) device employed to allow the rear wheels to join in as well, allowing rear steer angles of up to 90 and in some cases 360 degrees or more, it is slightly harder on tyres and roadside objects than the systems from the Japanese manufacturers but it is undeniably effective.
(plus a few others) device employed to allow the rear wheels to join in as well, allowing rear steer angles of up to 90 and in some cases 360 degrees or more, it is slightly harder on tyres and roadside objects than the systems from the Japanese manufacturers but it is undeniably effective.
jfdi said:
Every day's a school day
French and complicated, what could possibly go wrong.
My dad's had a few Lagunas and I was always surprised by the kit levels - perhaps they're a sacrificial testbed for whatever weird kit the Germans have thought of but not made production ready yet? French and complicated, what could possibly go wrong.
Didnt that 3000GTO or whatever it was Mitsubishi made have 4WS? And it had 2 modes so that on the M-Way all four wheels would turn the same way so that you sorta crabbed your way over into the next lane? Of course doing the opposite so you can go round tight corners.
Dont really think its got much use on a road car to be fair. It is however very useful for large trucks and what not.
Dont really think its got much use on a road car to be fair. It is however very useful for large trucks and what not.
The reason it died out was because a well designed and tuned passive system with kinematic rear steer can achieve many of the benefits without the weight or cost of an active system.
It has however made a bit of a comeback recently, generally considered to be one of those things that will go in and out of fashion depending on the status quo of the market.
It has however made a bit of a comeback recently, generally considered to be one of those things that will go in and out of fashion depending on the status quo of the market.
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